Best of Q1 💯

Dear readers, We launched Quartz membership five months ago, as a guide to the industries, companies, people, and phenomena that leaders need to understand in our changing global economy. I’m excited by all of the positive feedback we’ve received so far, and by the unique journalism Quartz has published for members. With the first quarter wrapped up, I wanted to step back and highlight some of my favorite member-exclusive stories so far this year. Here they are: 1) [Corporate boards are broken—this is how to fix them]( This piece asks the vital question of whether governing a modern company is a job that any board can actually do effectively. It examines five key ways in which boards can be improved. A [companion article]( looks in depth at the radical idea of replacing the board of directors with a company. 2) [Bill Gates on how he would educate himself if he was 15 years old today]( When I sat down to interview Gates in his office this winter, I was hoping to get him to talk about how he reads, and how he learns things. He fortunately was game, and the result is an exclusive peek, captured on video, into the ways of a cerebral billionaire. 3) [Inside the secretive world of sovereign wealth funds]( Before this in-depth report, I hadn’t fully appreciated the recent acceleration in the size of sovereign wealth funds around the world, and the extent to which they’re behind the explosion in venture capital and startups. 4) [If you don’t think esports is a big deal, you’re not paying attention]( Esports is arguably the fastest-growth sector that the fewest business people truly understand. It’s massive on its own, and also more broadly points to the sort of opportunities available amid the digitalization of entertainment and media. This piece is an efficient way to get up to speed. 5) [Alibaba’s ambitions are limitless]( Alibaba is best known for its online shopping business, but that's only the beginning. This piece examines Alibaba's true plan: to build an operating system for 21st century commerce, spanning retail, payments, transportation, entertainment, food, and more. I encourage you to [subscribe]( to a free trial of Quartz membership to access all of these stories. With membership, you’ll get all of the new [in-depth guides]( to business on topics like those above as we publish them each week. In addition to access to all of Quartz’s content, you’ll unlock [other membership perks]( like exclusive event invitations and conference calls with our journalists. Thanks for considering joining the thousands of Quartz readers who have already signed up for membership, and are benefiting from this unique offering. Best, Kevin J. Delaney Editor in chief, cofounder kevind@qz.com [Start your free trial]( Quartz 675 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10010 [Unsubscribe]( Please note that if you unsubscribe from this email you will only be opted out of Quartz product marketing emails. You will still receive other Quartz emails that you currently subscribe to, such as the Quartz Daily Brief and the Quartz Obsession.